Shall We Divorce?

(Jacob POV)

At around lunchtime, Leah and my headaches had gone down enough to be around people again. We went down to lunch with Billy, Sue, Seth, and Charlie, and tried to act happy for Seth and Charlie's sake.

"Well, bet the police station is looking for me. Better take off," said Charlie gruffly.

"Can I come?" Seth piped up. Charlie shrugged and nodded.

"Sure kiddo," he said and Seth beamed at him. They were getting on well at the moment.

"Drive safe," Sue said as they left.

"If I tell Sue, will you tell Billy?" Leah growled. I nodded. God, I was married to this witch? She left with Sue, who looked very confused.

"C'mon Dad," I said. He sighed. We rounded the pool a couple of times before either of us spoke.

"What's up, Jake?" Billy turned to face me.

"It's complicated. I'm trying to figure out where to start," I replied.

"The beginning is always nice," Billy offered.

"Which beginning would you like?" I asked sarcastically.

"The first one," Billy replied. He was too smart for me to outthink, always.

"You know how Leah and I are married?" I began, somewhat awkwardly.

"I think I've heard," Billy teased.

"It wasn't meant to happen," I said quickly. Billy raised his eyebrows.

"Expand on that," he said evenly. I took a deep breath.

"We weren't meant to get married, Dad," I said, my throat dry.

"But you proposed to her, right?" Billy said. I sighed, and ran my hands through my hair. Why did this have to be so hard?

"You proposed to Leah with no intention to marry her. Doesn't sound like you," Billy said calmly.

"I was sort of going to, but not yesterday," I moaned.

"So it was a brought a little forward," Billy shrugged.

"A hundred years forward," I replied.

"Elaborate, Jake," Billy commanded.

"We were only going to get married if we didn't imprint within the next hundred years, because it beats the hell out of being alone forever," I explained quickly, like pulling off a bandaid.

"Ah. A back-up plan," Billy sighed. I tried to read his face, but it was blank. Not a good sign.

"Things got a little out of hand," I shrugged guiltily.

"I see. And Leah is telling Sue?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yeah," I said, and he looked away for a moment, thinking.

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

"I don't know," I replied honestly.

"You will do the right thing. I know you will," Billy sounded so confident.

"How can you know I won't just make a bigger mess of everyone?" I asked.

"It's your instincts, Son. You always do end up doing the right thing," Billy smiled at me. I don't know if I can ever live up to what Billy sees me as. Sometimes I wonder if he really believes all this. I guess he does.

"Thanks," I said gruffly. He smiled.

"I think you just need to clear your head. We're going home in an hour," Billy laughed.

"Oh! That's going to be hell!" I groaned. Suddenly, Billy pushed me into the pool. The rush of cold water shocked me, and I gasped in a heap of water. Spluttering, I swam over to him. He was laughing.

"What the hell?" I demanded, flicking my wet hair off my face.

"Clearing your head. Feel better?" Billy laughed.

"Much, actually," I laughed and splashed him. He laughed.

"That's my boy!" he leant down and pushed me into the water again. I bobbed down obligingly before springing back up. God, I missed being human, and having these human moments.

"Sure thing," I splashed him again. What I would not give to stay in that moment forever.

(Some Time Later)

We were sitting in our house. There was an uncomfortable silence in the air. Billy and Sue were waiting for us to do 'the right thing', of which was yet to be specified.

"C'mon, Leah," I said abruptly, standing.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"On my bike. Hurry up," I replied, pulling her to her feet.

"All right," she said. I noticed Billy and Sue exchange a hopeful look. They still wanted us to be together, no matter what they might say. We left the house and went into the garage. Wordlessly, I climbed onto my bike and Leah climbed on behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist hesitantly. We took off, fast.